YouthFriends is a school-based mentoring effort that links caring adult volunteers from the community with students in schools and is open to all students, grades K-12, within participating school districts. All activities take place on school grounds before, during or after school hours. YouthFriends volunteers typically visit a school for one hour each week to do things like have lunch with a student, help with reading or academic tutoring, share an interest or a hobby or simply listen.

YouthFriends initiative is district-wide participation in all 100 buildings.

Reading Pal
Read to an elementary student, kindergarten through 3rd grade, one-to-one and listen to him/her read. Discuss what was read.

Tutor
Provide assistance to a student one-to-one who needs additional academic help on a particular subject area.

Special Projects
YouthFriends actively encourages the development of any new program that links positive role models from the community to students in schools.

Community Reader
Read to a whole elementary class, kindergarten through third grade during library time.